The arrival of warmer Spring weather signals that you should be boosting your liquid intake to stay hydrated. Quenching your thirst with our Navitas Naturals Pomegranate Powder not only makes your juice, tea, fruit smoothies or spring water taste incredible, but it also adds super free-radical fighting power, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and a little taste of mythological history to your diet, too.

Pomegranates are the definitive power fruit. Loaded with juicy, tart and sweet seeds (as many as 800 per fruit!), the red Mediterranean fruit is well known for its amazing health benefits, which is also why it's one of the stars of our Navitas Naturals superfood line of products.

Doctors and nutrition experts have plenty of great things to say about the pomegranate. It has been linked with improving cardiovascular function (heart disease is the number one killer in the U.S.!) by lowering blood pressure and helping to reduce plaque build up in arterial walls. Studies have also found that potent polyphenols found in pomegranates can help protect against certain types of cancer, including breast cancer.

With a rich history of uses (the pomegranate has often been revered as a symbol of fertility and prosperity) the pomegranate has stood the test of time, proving its value both in our culture and our diet. You can now enjoy the benefits of this power fruit any time, thanks to Navitas Naturals' freeze-dried, mess-free Pomegranate Powder. We make it easy to add our mild and smooth tasting pink Pomegranate Powder into every recipe.

Try blending 1-2 spoonfuls into your homemade iced tea, lemonade or 'Pomegarita', or add it into desserts like chocolate chia puddings for an extra nutritious and delicious boost. Mix it into truffles, or make a superfruity superfood addition to homemade energy bars or granola recipes that are perfect for taking with you on the bike trail, for a hike, or for just a lazy Spring day soaking in the warmer weather.

Sign up now for the new Earth Day Smoothment that begins on April 23. In the meantime, Chef Julie and our grassroots 'street team' are still roaming the East Coast doing in-store Smoothment Tour classes and demo events at retailers in New Jersey, Philadelphia and Upstate NY, so read on to learn more about where the Tour has been and where it is going in April near you. The Smoothment is an interactive, multimedia program that features easy and delicious organic smoothie recipes and advice from superfood gurus. It's a lifestyle movement to inspire people to upgrade the nutrition of one meal per day by adding a superfood smoothie into their daily routine.

In January 2012, Navitas Naturals kicked-off the Smoothment with a web-based, week-long program to inspire people in the New Year to add a healthy superfood smoothie to their daily diet. The initial online version featured seven 60 Second Smoothie videos by Chef Julie Morris and advice on how to make organic smoothies with specific functional benefits.

The Berry Antioxidant Smoothie is one of seven 60 Second Smoothie videos shared daily during the original 7-day New Year's Smoothment.

While that online program was a big success with more than one thousand participants and an abundance of fun interaction, there's still nothing like meeting people in person to share our culinary and nutrition advice about superfoods and smoothies. That's why in March & April we took the Smoothment directly to the people grassroots style one smoothie at a time. Chef Julie and the Smoothment team has been busy visiting dozens of stores on the East Coast providing superfood cooking classes, smoothie demos, store staff trainings and book signing sessions for her new book Superfood Cuisine.

One of the smoothest and best-attended events was a standing room-only crowd in the amazing kitchen studio at Whole Foods Market – Wellesley.

With full-on support from the dynamic, friendly team at Topline Marketing Inc. – our Northeast sales partner, and Navitas Naturals and retailer staff, Chef Julie Morris has already performed in-store superfoods events at many Whole Foods Markets and independent natural foods stores in Boston, Rhode Island, New York City, New Jersey, Maryland and Washington D.C.

Another New England Tour highlight was the enthusiasm and attention to detail at the Whole Foods-University store in Providence, RI. A feature in the Providence Journal helped entice customers to the event.

One of the fun moments on the New York City leg of the tour was the energized crowd at Whole Foods-Columbus Circle. People were lined up to see Chef Julie before we even got there!

You still have a chance to join the Smoothment Tour action in the Philadelphia-area the week of April 8-13, and in Syracuse, New York on April 15 for the tour grand finale at Natur-Tyme's 12th Annual Health & Wellness Expo. We're already planning for the next Smoothment Tour that will take place on the West coast this summer. Please send us a post about a California, Oregon or Washington natural products store that you recommend we do an event at, on our Smoothment Blog

What's next for the Smoothment? On April 23 we launch our second online program of 2012, the Earth Day Smoothment.

Celebrating the Earth means celebrating our own health and vitality, too. After all, we can't be good earth stewards when we're low on energy, lacking nutrition or vitality. The Earth Day Smoothment kicks off on Monday, April 23. Check the Smoothment blog for more details. If you haven't already, submit your email address on the blog page using our secure form and you'll get five daily emails with links to exclusive new 60-Second Smoothie videos by Superfood Cuisine author Chef Julie Morris. Smoothment members also gain access to smoothie tips designed to assist with detoxification, anti-aging, optimal protein, energy boosts, antioxidants, weight management and longevity.

It's time for Spring cleaning. Superfood smoothies can serve as an easy and gentle, everyday cleanse. Create a cleansing smoothie every day in place of a conventional meal or snack and enjoy increased weight control, restored energy, improved skin, and a variety of other health benefits. To gain the best results from a "spring cleaning" smoothie, use organic ingredients that are high in fiber, low in sugar, and don't be afraid to sneak in some purifying greens. Drink plenty of water, too!

Wheatgrass is a potent natural source of chlorophyll (the green "blood" of plants). This green powder assists in increasing circulation, promotes the detoxification of impurities, neutralizes acids and toxins, and replenishes cells with essential minerals and vitamins.

Chia Seeds provide about 25% of our recommended daily allowance of fiber in just one serving (2 tablespoons). Fiber is essential for healthy elimination, and a smooth running elimination system means less waste and toxins in our bodies.

Lucuma powder is a flavorful fruit sweetener that provides the sweetness we crave in smoothies, but with a very low sugar content. Cutting back on sugars is a well-researched way to effectively cleanse the body, release excess weight, and promote healthy skin.

Blend all ingredients together until smooth, adding as much ice as desired.

This recipe is vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free, and it makes about 4 cups (2 servings).

The latest chocolate health and business buzz is "Heart Health Chocolate: Dark and Bitter Treat," published in the March 20, 2012 edition of the Wall Street Journal. The write-up highlights the growing popularity of dark chocolate and profiles five leading dark chocolate products on the market today including Navitas Naturals organic raw cacao nibs, which are 100% dark chocolate. The article states, "take your chocolate straight and chomp on raw cacao beans, sold by Navitas Naturals. To maintain maximum nutrients, the nibs aren't roasted."

In the Wall Street Journal piece, nutritionist Joy Dubost of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, states "The higher the percentage of cocoa, the higher the flavanol content, the higher the antioxidant content and thus we believe the greater positive benefit." The article highlights three scientific analyses published in the past six months that pooled results of smaller studies to conclude that cocoa is good for the heart. So go ahead, nibble on some nibs, they're delicious and good for you, too.

Navitas Naturals

We believe nutrient-rich whole foods are at their best when produced by organic agriculture and minimal processing methods. That’s why all our products are certified organic, and use methods such as freeze-drying to ensure maximum nutrition. Since our origins in 2003, we’ve been committed to socially responsible business, and our direct purchasing partnerships create and expand fair trade opportunities for farming communities around the world. We offer a vast selection of organic superfoods and information on how to enjoy them in a diet that can help energize an active and healthy lifestyle.

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